With dynasty league rankings, the 2019 and 2020 seasons must be factored in – even more so now, with only six weeks left in the regular season. With tight ends, for example, I think it’s reasonable use a top-10 pick on Hunter Henry. He probably won’t even play this year, but he’s still got a great career ahead of him.

Zach Ertz is the No. 1 tight end on my board. He’s catching tons of balls (he’s going to break the single-season catch record for the position) and he’s a year younger than Travis Kelce.

Those are the clear top 2, I think. Then I’ve got six youngsters with bright futures behind them: O.J. Howard, George Kittle, Eric Ebron, Henry, David Njoku and Evan Engram. None are older than 25.

I’m leery of Rob Gronkowski. His body seems to be breaking down. Great player, but does he have more than six games left in his career? I’m not sure that he does. I might personally prefer to roll the dice on Dallas Goedert, who doesn’t really have much of an NFL role yet but looks like he’s going to be good.

A few weeks back I had pretty much given up on Jordan Reed, but he’s looking better now. He’s benefited from the Alex Smith injury. He seems to have a better rapport with Colt McCoy. Reed didn’t have 70 yards in any of his first nine games (and with just 1 TD on opening day). Since McCoy took over, Reed has gone over 70 yards two weeks in a row, with a touchdown. Still has the injury history, but I think he’s back in the conversation as a top-10 tight end.

All but three of the tight ends in my top 20 are under 30. The three older tight ends rank 15th to 17th.

With these being long-term rankings, I have five tight ends in my top 50 who aren’t even going to play again this year: Howard, Henry, Delanie Walker, Tyler Eifert and Will Dissly.

DYNASTY TIGHT END RANKINGS
RkTeamPlayerAge
1.PHIZach Ertz28
2.KCTravis Kelce29
3.TBO.J. Howard24
4.SFGeorge Kittle25
5.INDEric Ebron25
6.LACHunter Henry23
7.CLEDavid Njoku22
8.NYGEvan Engram24
9.CHITrey Burton27
10.WASJordan Reed28
11.NERob Gronkowski29
12.PHI• Dallas Goedert23
13.INDJack Doyle28
14.MINKyle Rudolph29
15.OAKJared Cook31
16.GBJimmy Graham32
17.CARGreg Olsen33
18.PITVance McDonald28
19.LARGerald Everett24
20.NYJ• Chris Herndon22
21.ARIRicky Seals-Jones23
22.ATLAustin Hooper24
23.TBCameron Brate27
24.TENDelanie Walker34
25.BAL• Mark Andrews22
26.BAL• Hayden Hurst25
27.MIA• Mike Gesicki23
28.DETMichael Roberts24
29.DENJeff Heuerman26
30.CINC.J. Uzomah25
31.BUFCharles Clay29
32.HOU• Jordan Akins26
33.LARTyler Higbee25
34.HOU• Jordan Thomas22
35.NODan Arnold23
36.DALGeoff Swaim25
37.PITJesse James24
38.SEANick Vannett25
39.TENJonnu Smith23
40.SEA• Will Dissly22
41.WASVernon Davis34
42.CHIAdam Shaheen25
43.CINTyler Eifert28
44.CAR• Ian Thomas23
45.GBLance Kendricks30
46.BUFJason Croom24
47.BALMaxx Williams24
48.KCDemetrius Harris27
49.NEJacob Hollister25
50.INDMo Alie-Cox25

To see rankings for other positions (compiled on previous weekends) click on the “< Older” link at the bottom of the page.

Next week: wide receivers

—Ian Allan